Scranton Orchestras

Dear J-Pup Orchestra Families, September 2026

It is with great excitement that I welcome your family to the Scranton Middle School Orchestra program. You play a vital role in the musical education of your student, and you can be successful at this even if you don’t believe yourself to be musical! Supporting your student at home is easy and fun — if you can teach them to wash dishes, you can help them develop a healthy practice routine at home, and I will assist you along the way. In the meantime, there are only a few things you need to keep in mind to ensure that your student enjoys music as part of their life for years to come:

1. Treasure the escape from “high-stakes'' studies. It seems that everywhere we turn, academic expectations run higher and panic begins to set in: about acing the exam, not marring the transcript, or keeping up with “high-achieving” peers. Playing a musical instrument helps parents pull their students off this fast track, if even for a moment, and not worry that other students will wind up “ahead.” Instrumental music gives students the room to find their genuine passions, the freedom to discover true independence, and the space to fail and bounce back. They will become better people this year through their musical studies.

2. Embrace the “offline” time. Your student’s ability to become a deep and complex person relies so much upon their ability to build their attention span. In our lightning-fast digital world, students do not have enough opportunity to build understanding and intelligence through mindful solitary activities. Musical instrument instruction facilitates this offline “slow world” learning and brings students together in a unique, “unplugged” ensemble when they have orchestra class.

3. Understand that your student’s instrumental music experience is just as (if not more) crucial to their growth as human beings than any other subject. Music is much more than a “special” or a “frill” subject — it is a core subject, and it should be approached that way by all of us. When taught with healthy rigor, it is often the most enjoyable subject during the school day, and the home practice should be treated as an essential part of the homework routine. When taught well and minimally supported at home, the craft of learning a musical instrument develops fortitude, willpower, and metacognitive skills that parents stay up at night hoping their students have when they grow up.

4. Encourage your student to fulfill their commitment. All students are capable of enjoying a successful K-12 music experience with a little support. By encouraging your student to “push through” the learning challenges, you are sending a clear message to everyone in our school system that you believe playing a musical instrument cultivates crucial “non-cognitive” skills that matter so much in the grown-up world. Spend 5-10 minutes a night helping your student create a practice routine and they will be far less likely to become frustrated and quit too early in their studies. (Borrowed from The Music Parents Guide website)

Once again, welcome to another great school year. I hope you are looking forward to your student’s outstanding musical achievements! 

Musically yours, 

Jennifer E. Evans, Director, Scranton Middle School Orchestras 

EVANSJE@brightonk12.com, 810.299.3714